Neural Technology Brain Computer Interface - 934 Words

Neural technology is a field of engineering that specializes in taking information that is present in the brain and translating it to a medium that can be understood by a wide range of people. One of the ways this is done is with systems that take information directly from the brain and enable control over a computerized system. These are referred to as brain computer interfaces, also known as BCIs. Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology decodes neural signals in real time to control external devices (Rouse). With many varying potential applications, it is possible to see BCIs applied to many aspects of everyday life. This could include- but is not limited to- limb replacement, advanced computer systems, and brain monitoring. For each of the different uses a brain-to-computer interface has there is a different system developed. One of the forms of Brain-Computer Interfaces is a neural interface. â€Å"Neural interface (NI) systems offer a novel approach to restore lost function and to diagnose or manage nervous system disorders† (Donoghue). They can either be directly in contact with the brain tissue or located in remote areas (Donoghue). â€Å"We have previously shown that people with long-standing tetraplegia can use a neural interface system to move and click a computer cursor and to control physical devices† (Hochberg). Many engineers and scientists in the field of neural technology and using these interface systems to allow people, people who have lost the ability to moveShow MoreRelatedBrain-Computer Interfaces1221 Words   |  5 Pages Until recently, our relationship with technology has been limited to physical and direct command. To get a device to take action, you mu st touch it, or speak to it. All of this could change with this new technology called, brain-computer interfaces. This amazing technology will not only revamp military applications, but most importantly help the medical community substantially. It brings the possibility of sound to the deaf, sight to the blind and movement to the physically challengedRead MoreNeural Prosthetics And Its Effects1741 Words   |  7 Pagesto regain some of what we had lost or have never hard, through neural prosthetics. In this essay, I will be dissecting and explaining what exactly neural prosthetics are while delving into its past, its current present applications while making comparisons to other similar technologies, and its future and potential uses. With only a very recent history, neural prosthetics is quickly becoming more and more relevant by the year. Neural prosthetics are already helping thousands of people, from peopleRead MoreThe Future Of Neuroscience : From Sci Fi1559 Words   |  7 Pageskick while wearing a robotic exoskeleton controlled by his brain. The high-tech demonstration was orchestrated by Duke University neuroscientist Miguel Nicolelis, as part of the Walk Again Project [2], to develop and implement a brain-machine interface to allow severely paralyzed patients to regain mobility. The sight of such futuristic technology straight out of the Iron Man movie becoming a reality is simply exhilarating. The human brain has often been referred to as the final frontier of scienceRead MoreFrom Toys to Practicality: Brain Computer Interface Technology900 Words   |  4 PagesPracticality: Brain Computer Interface Technology The idea of Brain Computer Interface (BCI) technology is the subject of high interest for many people and families of the person experiencing considerable physical impairments, such as those with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). This knowledge is recognized by several monitors, such as BCI, Brain-Machine Interface (BMI), neuro-brain transmission and Direct Brain Interface (DBI). Conventional computer input and assistive technology devices dependRead MoreBrain Computer Interface2272 Words   |  10 Pages1. Introduction: Modifying the human body or enhancing our cognitive abilities using technology has been a long-time dream for many people. An increasing amount of research tries to link the human brain with machines allowing humans to control their environment through their thoughts. Research on BCIs began in the 1970s, but it wasnt until the mid-1990s that the first working experimental implants in humans appeared. Following years of animal experimentation, early working implants in humans nowRead MoreThe Lateral Sclerosis ( Als ) Is A Neurodegenerative Disease That Causes Loss Of Motor Neurons And Progressive Weakness1476 Words   |  6 Pagesbenefit greatly from the use of a brain computer interface (BCI)(Birbaumer, 2006; Coyle, Ward, Markham, McDarby, 2004). BCI can help individuals communicate without relying on muscular control, which is critical for clinical populations of neuromuscular disease patients, such ALS (Wolpaw, 2002). The use of BCI can enable communication and increase quality of life but to date the effects of mental fatigue have been ignored. However, the current state of BCI technology and overall usability is not advancedRead MoreModern Robotic Arms1416 Words   |  6 PagesINTRODUCTION Mind-melding as between the machines and animal is not something never heard of. The researchers have tried to attempt it since as early as the beginning of 1970s. Some studies in the past within interfaces of brain-machine have enabled the monkeys to gain control of the robotic arms as well as the people who were paralyzed to control the cursors over the screen. Even then the researchers could not know it at all if the humans would be able to control the robotic arms for performingRead MoreBBCI Essay977 Words   |  4 PagesHigh Data Rate Wireless Communications for Brain-Computer Interfaces Overview: To achieve full success in experiments on brain plasticity, bi-directional brain computer interfaces (BBCIs) must deliver activity-dependent stimulation for extended periods of time in unconstrained environments [1]. BBCIs are neuroprosthetics used for fundamental research in neurophysiology and neural rehabilitation. The ability to stimulate the brain in response to single neuron action potentials have allowed for high-fidelityRead More Neural Interfacing Essay1123 Words   |  5 PagesNeural Interfacing In the motion picture â€Å"RoboCop† scientists during a future time implanted a human head into the body of a futuristic robot creating an almost unstoppable police officer. During 1987, when this movie was produced, the idea of man combining with machine was considered pure fantasy. However, advances in technology in the year 2000 and further studies in recent years have proven that this idea may, in time, become a reality. On October 13th 2003, sciencedaily.com in theirRead MoreA Paper Presentation on Brain Controlled Car for Disabled Using Artificial Intelligence1667 Words   |  7 PagesA Paper Presentation on BRAIN CONTROLLED CAR FOR DISABLED USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE Submitted on the event of Zeitgeist’09 At UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Essay on Practical Applications of Evolutionary Biology

Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallaces concept of natural selection and descent with modification helped shape the theory of evolution which holds as much weight as the theory of relativity per se. Evolutionary biology is the science devoted to understanding how populations change through time in response to modifications of their environment and how new species come into being by studying adaptation and diversity (Freeman and Herron 2004). Evolutionary biology has proved that all organisms have evolved from a common ancestor over the last 3.5 billion years. There is a common misconception that evolution is only a theoretical or abstract science with little or no relevance to the real world (Halliburton, 2004). This common misperception†¦show more content†¦Bull and Whichman (2001) state how understanding evolution can help us retard or even prevent the evolution of resistance. They further delineate that: The misuse of antibiotics encourages evolution in the bacterium so that it is no longer affected by the drug. If the bacterium spreads, then people contracting it are at risk of an untreatable infection, no matter how conscientious they have been in their past use of antibiotics. (2001) This study concluded that resistance might become a global problem very quickly most likely due to a high volume of international travel among humans and animals. It is the job of the evolutionary biologists in conjunction with the medical community and profession to inform the public about bacterial resistance management. Some applications covered would be proper dosage requirements, combinational drug therapy and administering selective application of antibiotics with patients and animals. Learning about the evolutionary origins of disease as well as the basic processes of evolution may provide insight on how to treat current diseases such as Huntingtons Chorea - which may help us better understand the genetic roots of disease. A flu shot is an example of how we can hinder the evolution of resistance by the way we apply these toxins to our bodys environment. Since the dawn of man, humans have been constantly creating defensesShow MoreRelatedSocial Psychology : An Uphill Battle Against Behaviorism1536 Words   |  7 Pagesthat Kurt Lewin found that the best theories are the practical ones, where researchers take their findings and knowledge to make sense of and make a difference in the real world. It would not be too much to say that social psychology (and its emphasis on the situation where the person is embedded) is needed now more than ever, in a time of radical dispositionism, social structural transformation, and rapid changes in the ways we live. The Biology of Social Behavior Parents often tell their childrenRead MoreThe Scientific Field Of Game Theory1512 Words   |  7 Pagesgame theory are able to formulate models and find the outcomes of a variety of different strategies. More importantly, game theory is not limited to games such as chess or poker, but a wide variety of fields including economics, computer science, biology and even political science. To understand why game theory underlies these other fields, one must first understand what a game is. A game is any situation that contains a set of players, a set of possible actions (strategies) for each playerRead MoreThe Impact of Computer Science on Health Care Medicine1283 Words   |  6 Pagestheir theory, design, analysis, implementation and application. Its functions in the modern society today expand far beyond the uses one could even begin to imagine. Specifically, there is an increased influence in its practical application in the field of medicine. In recent times, an interdependent relationship between medicine and technology itself has been developed that did not exist before. Modern healthcare relies heavily on the application of computer technology in furthering its advancementRead MoreStatement of Purpose: Electical and Computer Engineering1439 Words   |  6 Pagesparents. And the fussy care, not being present, promoted excellent leeway for studying in proportion to my interest for any subject. Those were the formative years when I developed keen predilec tion in physical science, biology and mathematics, moved by their astounding physical applications. The most exciting days of my school were of the Annual Exhibition where every student took part in different departments to portray engaging themes. In my junior years, I participated in the department called â€Å"LittleRead MoreThe Future Of Disease And The Human Genome Essay1125 Words   |  5 Pagesreplicated this immunity will be passed down, thus helping the microbe to fight virus the virus if it returns. It is because of its ability to actively create modified hereditable DNA the CRISPR is so amazing. Leading many scientists to consider the application of CRISPR outside of the microbial cells in which it is found. First the scientist Siksnys demonstrated that CRISPR could actually be transferred out to a different cell. By demonstrating that the â€Å"transplantation of the type II CRISPR locus fromRead MoreThe Conceptual Foundations Of Psychology2268 Words   |  10 Pagesindependent science of psychology came from biology. The founders of psychology took a path to the mind through physiology, while a bigger influence came from a younger branch of biology- evolution- which through a shift in focus from the contents of the mind to the function of the mind, eventually gave rise to the different fields existing in psychology today such as psychobiology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology and more recently evolutionary psychology. Although psychologists have traditionallyRead MoreAsdfghjkl894 Words   |  4 Pagesfull sweep and complexity of cultures across all of human history, anthropology draws and builds upon knowledge from the social and biological sciences as well as the humanities and physical sciences. A central concern of anthropologists is the application of knowledge to the solution of human problems. Historically, anthropologists in the United States have been trained in one of four areas: sociocultural anthropology, biological/physical anthropology, archaeology, and linguistics. AnthropologistsRead MoreEssay on The History of Psychology1423 Words   |  6 Pagesapproach unlike the natural sciences; even the definition of Psychology and what it truly means is still undecided. However I shall attempt to review chronologically its philosophical origins, include how the science of Physics and Biology were placed in history and how they influenced research and determined the development of Psychology as its recognised today. Beginning with the philosophers Plato and Aristotle (between 428- 347) in ancient Greece, they began toRead MoreThe Impact Of Religion On The Public School System2185 Words   |  9 Pagesphilosophers imply that is unhealthy that only one side of this dispute is presented within the classroom. We will not address creationism within the classroom anymore, because it implies different claims that that of ID, imposing an unconstitutional application of the Establishment Clause. But little consideration for intelligent design implies blindness to a potential solution-the prospect to reconcile these differences, if accepted. The predicament, though, is that ID does not make great distinctionRead MoreDesigner Babies Essay1213 Words   |  5 Pagesfar with the human genome project? Do we risk creating children as a medical commodity? Could it ultimately lead to parents demanding genetically-engineered offspring with good looks, intelligence, or athletic abilities? It is my position, from a practical medical perspective, that although this research has muc h potential, the adverse effects outweigh the positive gains. When this research is used under the motives of cosmetics, it will adversely affect our society and the human race as a whole. Presented

Myths and heroes free essay sample

Myths are stories that are based on tradition. Some may have factual origins, while others are completely fictional. The myth discussed in the novel was that the white people are superior. There have been several notable African Americans who fought to break the myth and became heroes. Some examples of these African Americans were Jefferson from the novel, Joe Louis, and Jackie Robinson. Although some of the attempts that were made by these heroes did not always succeed, they helped in making a difference in equality in the long run.One of the major issues discussed by the British philosopher John Locke during the time Of the Enlightenment period was the idea that every man is born with natural rights to life, liberty and property; these rights can also be noninsured as equality. Over the course of American history, blacks were wrongfully treated, oppressed and denied their natural rights. Those who fought for their rights and for the rights of others can be described as heroes. Myths differ from legends in that they have less historical background.. . Hey differ from fable in that they are less concerned with moral didactics and are the product of a racial group rather than the creation of an individual. (Holman, 333) The myth is generally a fictional story that represents realistic things or events. An example of a hero that literally fought to break the myth about black people is Joe Louis. He is a very well-known boxer throughout the world. According to Bond, Louis was not doing well in school in his home town and when his step father moved the family to Detroit things only got worse.It was also said to be that Joe Louis was the youngest heavyweight champion in history and the first black champion since Jack Johnson in 1915. He was also the most popular heavyweight boxer in history. In an era of undisguised racism, Louis fascinated white fans who were awed by his stony ferocity and his raw power. He stood as a symbol of racial pride for blacks. (Bond, 563) Even though people had been against black people, they still had a respect for the people that stood out.Louis showed that he was equal to if not better than many white athletes. His fights were broadcast over radio and were heard by as many as two-thirds of all the radio listeners in America, audiences of as many as fifty million, and he attracted audiences of tens of thousands to the arenas for his every fight. (Bond, 563) Joe Louis was a very influential boxer to the world that did make white people set aside their hatred toward blacks to admire a great athlete regardless of his race. Bond also says that going was the most corrupt sports but Louis managed to maintain a reputation as a man untainted by scandal, whose natural talent made him unbeatable. (Bond, 563) Louis was a natural born boxer whose discovery created a scandal. He supported more than twenty friends and family during the 1 sass, and when his large purses were divided, he had little left over for himself. (Bond, 563) These actions show how selfless Louis really was. On June 19 of 1 936 Louis fought Max Smelling for the chance at the heavy weight champion James J.Bradford. In the fight with Smelling, Louis was more than a representative of his race on fight eight; he was an American hero fighting against a German champion when the Anti-Semitism of the Nazis was already apparent(Bond, 563) During WI and the Holocaust, Joe Louis was able to bring racial tension to a hold to fight a common goal; to put down a Nazi, a villain. According to Victor Bond, everyone thought he would win easily but unfortunately he was knocked out in the Willets round, but on June 25 of 1938 they fought again.This time Louis gave America what they wanted to see and that was a knock out at a whopping two minutes and six seconds of the first round. The next day Heywood Boron wrote that Louis had exploded the Nordic myth with a bombing glove. Louis was a hero to Americans regardless of their skin color or racial views because he was very supportive, selfless, and fought his way to the top which is something others can only dream of doing. Jackie Robinson is another great example of a hero that fought for his rights and influenced other blacks to fight for theirs.Jackie Robinson was born in Georgia; he was the youngest of five children. His father abandoned his family when he was six months old. His mother moved the family to Pasadena, California. Jackie Robinson said that Pasadena regarded us as intruders. (Bond, 565) the Robinsons were a black family in a white persons territory. Robinson once said My brothers and were in many a fight that started with a racial slur on the very street we lived on. Jackie Robinson grew up with a lot of racism but never let it get the best of him. Jackie Robinson went to The University of California, Los Angels (UCLA). Despite leading the conference in scoring for two 565) As one observer commented, Its purely the case of a coach refusing to recognize a players ability out of prejudice. (Bond, 565) Robinson was an amazing all- around athlete. He excelled in football, basketball, track, and most of all baseball. Jackie dropped out of UCLA to support his family by coaching at the National Youth Administration, and he played baseball to aid him in supporting his family. Jackie Robinson was drafted into the army, where he fought segregation from the beginningHe had refused a southern bus drivers orders to sit in the back of the bus, knowing that the army had just ordered the desegregation of base transportation. He was then taken to a military court and the judge claimed that he had acted within his rights, and he received an honorable discharge. (Bond, 565) The actions taken by Robinson in the military helped influence many blacks around the United States. In 1 945 Jackie Robinson met Branch Rickety, the general manager for the Brooklyn Dodgers when he was looking for someone to break the color barrier and to integrate professional baseball; it was evident that Jackie was the man for the job.Jackie was now the only black baseball player in Major ague Baseball. He showed all of America that black people have the potential to do something with their future. Another great example of a hero who fought to break the myth was Jefferson from the novel, A Lesson Before Dying. Jefferson was falsely convicted of murder only because he was a black man presented in front of a white jury where he did not stand a chance. Jefferson defense attorney tried to help Jefferson by telling the jury that Jefferson was not capable Of thinking about committing the crimes and that the jury might as well send a hog to the electric chair.Grant Wiggins, the main character was supposed to teach Jefferson how to be a man before his execution and to stand up tall when approaching the electric chair. When Grant was talking to Jefferson he said do you know what a myth is, Jefferson? A myth is an old lie that people believe in. White people believe that theyre better than anyone else on earth- and thats a myth. (Gaines, 1 92) Grant and Jefferson were discussing this in the jail where Jefferson was being kept until his execution. The last thing they ever want is to see a black man stand, and think and show that common humanity is in us all. (Gaines, 1 92) In this quote grant was describing the myth from a deeper perspective to Jefferson. By doing this Grant motivated Jefferson to try to become a man before dying. As long as none of us stand theyre safe. Theyre safe with me. Theyre safe with Reverend Ambrose. Dont want them to feel safe with you anymore. (Gaines, 192) Grant later adds l want you to chip away at that myth by standing. I want you yes, you to call them liars. I want you to show them that you as much a man more a man as they can ever be. That jury?You call them men? That judge is he a man? The governor he is no better. (Gaines, 1 92) Grant was explaining to Jefferson what he has potential to achieve before his death and that the people who were at a higher authority than him Were just as much if not less of men as Jefferson. In the end of the novel when Jefferson was about to be executed Vincent asked Jefferson if he had any last words and that is hen he said Tell Nana I walked. (Gaines, 254) After all that work Jefferson released the man inside of him and held his head high.

The Wounded Knee Massacre Essay Example

The Wounded Knee Massacre Essay Proposal: This research would like to focus on the Wounded Knee Massacre, specifically drawing the relationship between the events before, during and after it. The Wounded Knee Massacre (also known as the Battle of Wounded Knee) is regarded as the event that put a close to the Indian wars in the United States. On December 29, 1890, federal troops slaughtered almost 300 Lakota men, women and children on the snowy banks of Wounded Knee Creek. At present, the Wounded Knee Massacre still manages to stir up strong political sentiments among Native Americans and their supporters. Furthermore, the incident â€Å"(symbolized) not only a culmination of a clash of cultures and the failure of governmental Indian policies, but also the end of the American frontier† (Liggett, 1998). Events Leading to the Massacre The Native Americans were the original inhabitants of the United States. For thousands of years, they lived in the continent in isolation, allowing their tribes to develop distinct cultures. But white immigration in the 15th century nearly wiped out their existence, as well as their ways of life. Aside from seizing their lands, the whites sold countless Indians to slavery or killed them through warfare or disease (MSN Encarta, 2008). Consequently, some Native American tribes resorted to armed resistance. We will write a custom essay sample on The Wounded Knee Massacre specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Wounded Knee Massacre specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Wounded Knee Massacre specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The Effects of the Ghost Dance Outbreak Wovoka (formerly known as Jack Wilson), a Paiute prophet, founded the Ghost Dance religion in the late 1880s. He promised that should the ritual ghost dance be observed, the Indians will regain their lands, their dead ancestors will rise, the whites will disappear and the future of the Native Americans will be characterized by eternal peace and prosperity (MSN Encarta, 2008). Many Native American tribes embraced the Ghost Dance as a result, viewing it as a salvation from their lives of hunger, disease, oppression and poverty (Liggett, 1998). But the emergence of the Ghost Dance religion frightened white settlers, prompting them to call for federal intervention (MSN Encarta, 2008). The Arrest Order against Big Foot and Sitting Bull. The Ghost Dance religion rapidly spread through all of the Sioux reservations. Led by Big Foot, Sioux Indians (many of whom were women who lost their husbands and or male relatives in wars against the Americans) would perform the Ghost Dance until they collapsed, hoping that their dead ancestors will indeed come back to life. His half-brother, Sitting Bull, did not believe that the Ghost Dance can raise the dead. Despite his disbelief, he respected the beliefs of those who practiced the Ghost Dance (Ghost Dancer’s Native American Indian Lodge, 1998). But Sitting Bull was afraid of the rumors that soldiers were being sent to some reservations because the white settlers were afraid of the Indians who were practicing the Ghost Dance. He did not want to lose more of his people to American troops. Sitting Bull’s fears were well-founded – Agent McLaughlin accused him of being the mastermind of the Ghost Dance and telegraphed Washington for additional forces (Ghost Dancer’s Native American Indian Lodge, 1998). General Miles, meanwhile, had ordered the arrest of Big Foot, who, by then, had already fled to Pine Ridge with his followers (Last of the Independents, n.d.). The Death of Sitting Bull and his Troops. About 43 Indian police surrounded Sitting Bull’s cabin on the dawn of December 15, 1890. A squadron of cavalry was stationed three miles away to serve as reinforcements. Lieutenant Bull Head entered the cabin and roused Sitting Bull, who agreed to come with the police as soon as he was dressed. But as soon as they were outside, a large group of Ghost Dancers began to confront the police (Last of the Independents, n.d.). The scuffle between the two parties resulted in bloodshed. One of the dancers, Catch-the-Bear, brandished a rifle and fired at Lieutenant Bull Head. Bull Head fired back at him in retaliation, only to accidentally shoot Sitting Bull. Sitting Bull was also shot in the head by another policeman, Red Tomhawk. Although the cavalry later managed to quell the fighting, many Indian policemen had already died (Last of the Independents, n.d.). The Capture of Big Foot by the Troops of Major Samuel M. Whitside. In order to evade arrest, Big Foot and his followers went to the Pine Ridge Reservation on December 28, 1890. But they were intercepted at Porcupine Butte by Major Samuel M. Whitside and were instead taken to Wounded Knee Creek. While in custody, the Indians were interrogated all night regarding as to whether or not they participated in the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876 – the battle wherein the combined forces of Lakota and Northern Cheyenne Indians defeated the troops of General George Armstrong Custer. The officers and troopers at Wounded Knee Creek were said to have gotten themselves drunk on whiskey celebrating Big Foot’s capture (Dill, n.d.). The Deployment of Troops to Lakota Camp On the evening of December 28, Colonel James Forsyth arrived at Wounded Knee Creek with reinforcements and assumed the commandership of the operation. At dawn on December 29, 1890, he announced that the prisoners will be taken to Omaha, Nebraska. An estimated 120 Lakota warriors were then summoned to a powwow (â€Å"council circle†) with the 7th Cavalry position (Forsyth’s troops) some 200 yards north. Even Big Foot, who was ill with pneumonia, was brought along to the meeting (Bateman, 2008). In his article Wounded Knee (2008), Robert Bateman described how tight security was during the aforementioned powwow: Three companies of dismounted troopers moved in to surround the assembled braves, while two rows of mounted troopers waited in open skirmish order several hundred yards to the south and west. This was not a combat formation, but one more suited to   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   crowd control, should the Sioux attempt to flee. As an added precaution, 7th Cavalry commander Colonel James W. Forsyth placed four Hotchkiss light artillery guns on a rise overlooking the camp. (n. pag.) The Disarmament of the Siuox. Forsyth had a very good reason for tightening the security – the powwow was intended to strip the detainees of their weapons, particularly firearms. During the meeting, he demanded (with the aid of a translator) that the Indian delegates turn over all their arms. Despite an order from Big Foot to surrender their weapons, the Indians gave up only two broken carbines. Upset, Forsyth ordered a complete search (Bateman, 2008). Misunderstandings between the Lakota and the Federal Troops Back in the main camp, rumor was rife among the other prisoners that they will be deported to Indian Territory (Oklahoma). This story stirred panic among them, as Indian Territory was notorious for very abject living conditions. While Forsyth’s soldiers were searching the remaining Indians in the camp for weapons, some of the Native Americans began performing the Ghost Dance. As part of the ceremony, one of the performers threw dirt – an act which was misinterpreted by the soldiers as a manifestation of hostility. The situation worsened when Black Coyote, an Indian who was believed to be deaf, accidentally fired his gun as soldiers tried to take it away from him (Liggett, 1998). The Massacre Although nobody was injured from the shot, the soldiers construed it as a sign that the Indians wanted to fight. As a result, the troops struck back by gunning down defenseless Indians using small arms and the Hotchkiss cannons. Big Foot and his troops tried to fight back, but they were no match against the superior firepower of the soldiers. It must be noted that Hotchkiss cannons have the capacity to fire 50 two-pound explosive shells per minute (Liggett, 1998). The 350 unarmed Indians also tried to fight back with their bare hands. But they were outnumbered by the almost 500 well-armed government troops. Although most of the massacre’s casualties were killed during the first ten to twenty minutes of the slaughter, soldiers had to spend several hours more going after Indians who attempted to flee into a nearby ravine (Liggett, 1998). The army spared no one, not even the women and the children. Below is an eyewitness account from an Oglala Sioux named American Horse: There was a woman with an infant in her arms who was killed as she almost touched the flag of truce†¦A mother was shot down with her infant; the child not knowing that its mother was dead was still nursing†¦The women as they were fleeing with their babies were killed together, shot right through†¦and after almost all of them had been killed a cry was made that all those who were not killed or wounded should come forth and they would be safe. Little boys†¦came out of their places of refuge, and as soon as they came in sight a number of soldiers surrounded them and butchered them there. (n. pag.) On January 1, 1891, a burial team returned to Wounded Knee and buried the bodies of the dead in a single burial pit. The injured and those at the point of death, meanwhile, were brought to an improvised hospital in the Pine Ridge Improvised Church. Ironically, 23 soldiers from the 7th Cavalry later received the Congressional Medal of Honor for killing unarmed Indians at Wounded Knee (Liggett, 1998). Despite the carnage of the Wounded Knee Massacre, public outrage over the event prompted General Miles to use political diplomacy in ending the federal government’s war with the Native Americans. Although he had the Stronghold (a major Sioux base) surrounded with 8,000 troops, he urged the Sioux to lay down their arms in exchange for good treatment from the government. The Sioux finally surrendered on January 15, 1891, ending the decades-long hostilities between the Indians and the Americans (Phillips, 2008). Conclusion The Wounded Knee Massacre is an event in American history that validates the claim that the oppression of Native Americans by white settlers is the first instance of American imperialism. The white settlers disregarded the fact that the Indians were the original inhabitants of the United States simply because the latter had a way of life which they considered â€Å"uncivilized.† Difference in culture was used as a license to kill defenseless individuals. If this is how the Americans treated those from their own land, why should the world get surprised if it eventually treated people from other lands worse? References Bateman, R. (2008). Wounded Knee. Military History, 24, n. pag. Retrieved August 3, 2008 from EBSCOhost. Dill, J.S. Cankpe Opi. (n.d.). Chronology of Events Leading Up to the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre. Retrieved August 3, 2008, from http://www.clickshovel.com/wkup.html Ghost Dancer’s Native American Indian Lodge. (1998). Ghost Dance Movement. Retrieved August 3, 2008, from http://www.geocities.com/BourbonStreet/Bayou/6029/Wolf/gdance.html Last of the Independents. (n.d.). Wounded Knee: The Ghost Dance. Retrieved August 3, 2008, from http://www.lastoftheindependents.com/wounded.htm Liggett, L. Bowling Green State University, American Culture Studies Program. (1998). The Wounded Knee Massacre (December 29, 1890): An Account of the Massacre. Retrieved August 3, 2008, from http://www.bgsu.edu/department/acs/1890s/woundedknee/WKmscr.html Liggett, L. Bowling Green State University, American Culture Studies Program. (1998). The Wounded Knee Massacre (December 29, 1890): An Introduction. Retrieved August 3, 2008, from http://www.bgsu.edu/department/acs/1890s/woundedknee/WKIntro.html Liggett, L. Bowling Green State University, American Culture Studies Program. (1998). The Wounded Knee Massacre (December 29, 1890): Ghost Dance Religion. Retrieved August 3, 2008, from http://www.bgsu.edu/department/acs/1890s/woundedknee/WKghost.html MSN Encarta. (2008). Native Americans of North America. Retrieved August 3, 2008, from http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761570777/Native_Americans_of_North_ America.html MSN Encarta. (2008). Wounded Knee. Retrieved August 3, 2008, from http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761574723/Wounded_Knee.html Phillips, C. HistoryNet.com. (2008). Wounded Knee Massacre: United States versus the Plains Indians. Retrieved August 3, 2008, from Wounded Knee Massacre: United States versus the Plains Indians